Participants race at a cyclocross event on Millsap Mountain in Fayetteville in November 2018.

Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer

A two-day cyclocross event is on the schedule for 2019 in south Fayetteville.

FayetteCross is set for Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6 at Centennial Park atop Millsap Mountain. Registration for the event is now open at FayetteCross.com, and the deadline to register is Oct. 1.

The races were held as OzCross in 2018 as part of the NWA CX Series, but is back for another round with a new name this year.

The event is organized by Experience Fayetteville, and managed by Parkven Productions.

“Fayetteville is already well known to cyclists across the region and country for the Joe Martin Stage Race, its dense network of amazing single-track mountain bike trails and being a flat-out fun place to spend a weekend,” said Brook Watts, Parkven president. “With FayetteCross landing here, it’s now home to some of the best cyclocross racing in the region.”

For those unfamiliar, cyclocross is a unique type of competitive racing that combines the speed of road bike races with the terrain of mountain bike events, held on shorter, spectator-friendly courses. Cyclocross bikes resemble road bikes, but with slightly wider, knobby tires for traction on off-road surfaces. Racers typically hop off and carry their bikes up steep uphill sections and over various types of obstacles in races that last between 30 and 60 minutes.

Competitors of all ages and abilities are expected to participate. Offered each day is a $1,500 prize list for Elite Women and Elite Men categories – equal prize money for UCI men and women. Merchandise prizes are offered for all amateur categories.

With elite racers coming to Fayetteville from across the region and all over the United States, the event will give spectators a chance to see cyclocross racing at the highest level.

“Along with athletes from around the world, Fayetteville is excited to host everyone who will be coming to take part in the festivitie,” said Molly Rawn, executive director of Experience Fayetteville. “Adding FayetteCross to the list of world-class events in Fayetteville is an honor, and we look forward to helping give athletes and spectators a memorable experience.”

The two-day event is free for spectators, and food and beverages will be available.

Centennial Park is one of the newest additions to the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation system, and will be the site of the world’s biggest cyclocross event in 2022 – the UCI Cyclocross World Championships.

What: FayetteCross
When: Oct. 5-6, 2019
Where: Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain
Cost: Free for spectators
Registration: $10-$35 at FayetteCross.com